Culture around us...

I feel like people do not like to make eye contact while walking by one another.  I am guilty of this act, but I do not understand why our culture does this.  I believe that some are afraid of having the "awkward" contact with the other person of not knowing what to say or do.  "Do I smile, say hello, will they say hello first, and etc."  We are a culture afraid of rejection.  If the other person does not say hello back when I say hello, then you think that they have rejected you.